Method and apparatus for handling and packing tobacco

ABSTRACT

A LABOR SAVING METHOD OF HANDLING A TOBACCO CROP BY COMPRESSING A PILE OF TOBACCO LEAVES BETWEEN A BOTTOM TRAY AND TOP COVER FORMING A PAPERBOARD CONTAINER, UTILIZING AN INDUSTRIAL TRUCK EQUIPPED WITH A POWER OPERATED, LOAD ELEVATING MECHANISM. LATERALLY AND VERTICALLY MOVABLE PICK UP ARMS SUPPORT AND ELEVATE THE BOTTOM TRAY ON THE ELEVATING MECHANISM TO COMPRESS THE TOBACCO PILE BY BRINGING THE TOP COVER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH A STATIONARY PRESS MOUNTED ON THE ELEVATOR FRAME. THE TRAY AND COVER AT TIED TO HOLD THE TOBACCO PACK AND FROM A CONVENIENT CONTAINER CAPABLE OF BEING READILY HANDLED AND TRANSPORTED.

N. A. WALSH Feb. 9, 1971 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND PACKING TOBACCO '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jam 26, 1968 I Namon A. Walsh INVENTOQR.

N. A. WALSH Feb. 9,1971

' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND PACKING TOBACCO Filed Jan. 26, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. man d Atlomtj:

llll I United States Patent U.S. Cl. 53-124 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A labor saving method of handling a tobacco crop by compressing a pile of tobacco leaves between a bottom tray and top cover forming a paperboard container, utilizing an industrial truck equipped with a power operated, load elevating mechanism. Laterally and vertically movable pick up arms support and elevate the bottom tray on the elevating mechanism to compress the tobacco pile by bringing the top cover into engagement with a stationary press mounted on the elevator frame, The tray and cover are tied to hold the tobacco pack and form a convenient container capable of being readily handled and transported.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus particularly useful in the tobacco industry and involves a spe cial packing container within which tobacco leaves are compressed.

Present methods for packing and transporting a to bacco crop from a storage warehouse, require a considerable amount of labor and involves the sheeting of the tobacco on the warehouse floor, hauling the sheeted tobacco on jacks to the re-drying plant and packing of the ttobacco at the delivery location. A more efficient method for handling and transporting the tobacco would therefore save the tobacco industry a substantial amount in labor costs.

The method and apparatus of the present invention achieves the foregoing objective by eliminating the sheeting of the tobacco on the warehouse floor and by delivering the tobacco in a compressed state within a container that facilitates the packing, transport and handling of the tobacco.

In accordance with the present invention, the tobacco leaves are loaded into and piled up on top of a paperboard tray of special design. The power operated elevator mechanism on an industrial truck is modified so as to provide a pair of special pick up arms which are both laterally and vertically movable. The bottom tray loaded with tobacco is accordingly engaged by the pick up arms and elevated upwardly toward a stationary press structure mounted on the elevator frame which engages a top paperboard cover placed on top of the pile of tobacco. The tobacco is thereby compressed between the tray and cover and while under pressure the tray and cover are tied in order to form a convenient package or container with the tobacco maintained in a packed state. The pick up arms may then be lowered and the packed container transported to a delievery point by means of the industrial truck.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

'FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the elevator mechanism of an industrial truck modified in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the paperboard tray and cover and the usual tobacco basket by means of which the tobacco leaves are handled in accordance with the method of the present invention.

FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c are side sectional views through the assembled components of the present invention illustrating the different steps of the method.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged partial sectional views illustrating the tying of the tray and cover forming the container associated with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 illusstrates the forward end of a conventional type of industrial truck generally denoted by reference numeral having a load lifting elevator mechanism which includes a vertical frame assembly 12 supporting a power operated, side shifted clamp assembly 14 of well-known construction. In this type of elevator mechanism, hydraulic means under control of the industrial truck vehicle operator is utilized to laterally displace a pair of mounting plates 16 of the assembly 14 which is also vertically displaceable by the elevator mechanism on the frame 12. In accordance with the presentinvention however, a pair of special pick up arms generally referred to by reference numeral 18 are secured to the mounting plates 16 for lateral and vertical movement therewith under control of the truck vehicle operator. Further, a stationary press assembly 20 is cfixedly mounted on the elevator frame 12 at a suitable height.

Each of the pick up arms 18 includes an elongated supporting plate portion 22 disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and extending forwardly from the elevator mechanism to which it is attached by means of the clamp assembly 14. Extending upwardly at right angles to the supporting plate portion 22 along the outer longitudinal side thereof, is a leg portion 24 from which a side engaging portion 26 extends downwardly at a 45 angle to the supporting plate portion 22. The supporting plate and leg portions of each pick up arm are interconnected at the rear end by a connecting plate 28 which is secured by the fasteners 30 to the mounting plate 16 of the clamp assembly 14.

The stationary press assembly 20 includes a rectangular plate 32 having downwardly depending, elongated side rims 34 which extend forwardly from the elevator mechanism and are interconnected at opposite longitudinal ends by the end rims 36. Extending upwardly and at a 45 angle to the side rims 34 are side engaging surface portions 38. A pair of spaced notches 40 are also formed in the lower edges of the side rims 34 for purposes to be hereinafter explained. Secured as by welding to the top of the plate member 32, are a pair of parallel spaced, bracing bars 42 to which the angle irons 44 are connected as by welding. The angle bars 44 are attached.

as by welding to the elevator frame assembly 12 While angle connecting bar elements 46 interconnect the angle bars 44 with the frame assembly for rigid and fixed support of the press assembly.

The pick up arms 18 and the press assembly 20 are substantially equal in length and dimensioned to accommodate a paperboard container generally referred by reference numeral 48 in FIG. 2 which includes a bottom tray 50 and a top cover 52. The tray and cover are of similar construction and each includes a rectangular panel 54 from which elongated sides 56 extend at a 45 angle. Shorter sides 58 also extend from the longitudinal ends of the panel 54 substantially at right angles thereto and are interconnected with the elongated sides 56 by triangular tabs 60. The tabs 60 extend from the sides 56 and are preferably stapled to the shorter sides 58. Grommeted openings 62 are formed in the sides 56 at spaced locations while hand-hold formations or openings 64 are formed in the shorter sides 58. The tray and cover are almost equal in length to the length of the pick up arms 18 while the width is dimensioned for reception Within the press assembly 20 with the sides 56 substantially contacted by the side engaging rim portions 38 of the press assembly. Furthermore, the locations of the notches 40 in the rim portions 34 of the press assembly are such as to expose the grommeted openings 62 in the sides 56 of the cover.

With continued reference to FIG. 2 it will be observed that the container 48 is adapted to be utilized with the usual tobacco basket 66, commonly utilized in previous tobacco handling methods. In accordance with the present invention however the basket 66 is adapted to receive the bottom tray 50 of the container and the tobacco leaves piled on top of the bottom tray to a height of 42 inches for example. The tobacco leaves may be so piled up on top of the bottom tray on the warehouse floor, after which the industrial truck as shown in FIG. 1 is brought to the location maneuvering the pick up arms 18 in their lowered and spread apart positions on either side of the basket and bottom tray. The pick up arms may then be laterally displaced toward each other in order to engage and support the basket and bottom tray therebetween. The top cover 52 is then placed on top of the pile of tobacco as also shown in FIG. 3a and the pick up arms elevated to bring the top cover 52 into engagement with the stationary press assembly 20. The tobacco is thereby compressed between the cover and tray to a height of 19 inches for example as shown in FIG. 3b. In view of the 45 engaging surfaces on the press assembly and engaging arms, the sides of the container 48 are firmly held without crushing between the pick up arms and the press assembly as the tobacco is being compressed.

With the container being held under pressure between the pick up arms and the stationary press assembly, cables 68 extending through the aligned grommeted openings 62 in the tray and cover are tied at each of the four locations as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The cable which may be wire or cord is inserted through the grommeted opening 62 in the bottom tray prior to loading of the tobacco therein and then threaded through the aligned openings in the top cover when it is placed on top of the pile of tobacco. To permit tying of the cable while the container and tobacco is held under pressure, the grommeted openings in the cover 52 are exposed through the notches 40 of the press assembly. After the container is tied, the tobacco will be maintained in its compressed state by the container and be suitable for transport purposes. The pick up arms 18 may then be lowered to withdraw the container from the stationary press assembly as shown in FIG. 30. The industrial truck is then propelled under control of the operator carrying the packed container to the desired delivery point.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description of the apparatus and method associated with the present invention that in one operation tobacco is compressed and packed within a container suitable for transport purposes from a storage warehouse to a re-drying plant eliminating separate handling operations and substantially reducing container are provided while it is held under pressure. Also, hand-hold formations 64 are provided to permit manual handling when desired. The relatively small cost of the containers and the modifications necessary in connection with the elevator mechanism are clearly warranted in view of the savings in labor costs and handling time.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a container formed by a bottom tray and a top cover, apparatus for handling a product compressible between said tray and cover for substantially complete enclosure therebetween, comprising an industrial truck having an elevating mechanism mounted thereon including a vertical frame, stationary press means fixedly mounted on said frame for receiving the cover therein, a pair of laterally spaced pick up arms movably mounted on the frame below the press means and power operated means including means for laterally displacing said arms toward each other to engage and support the bottom tray and means for upwardly displacing said arms toward the press means, said press means including a top horizontal plate, a pair of side engaging rims extending downwardly therefrom at an angle and end plates interconnecting the side rims, said rims and end plates being dimensioned to peripherally contact the cover while the same is in abutment with the top plate, each of said tray and cover including a fiat panel, elongated sides extending therefrom at an angle in abutment with the rims, triangular tabs interconnecting the sides holding the same at said angle to the panel, said sides of the tray and cover being provided with aligned openings and ends having handle formations, said rims being provided with notches to expose the openings in the sides of the cover, and cable means extending through the aligned openings for securing the tray and cover to each other with the sides completely enclosing the compressed product between the flat panels of the tray and cover, each of said pick up arms including an elongated support plate and a side engaging portion extending upwardly at an angle to the plate substantially equal in length to the tray.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 153,035 7/1874 Baldwin 206-83.5 2,199,114 4/ 1940 Rosenberg 20683.5UX 3,056,245 10/1962 Baum et al. 20683.5UX 1,725,526 8/1929 Kondolf 93-35(PCO) 2,769,413 11/1956 Bodard 93-35(DS) 3,228,166 1/ 1966 Thiele 53-24 3,242,851 3/1966 Brawley -100X 3,380,221 4/1968 Thiele 53-24 3,425,472 2/ 1969 Marino 93-35 (DS) WAYNE A. MORSE, JR., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

